Readiness under pressure – why is it difficult?
The customers we work with are often under pressure to improve the availability of their assets, reduce operating costs and extend the lifespan of critical platforms. This is true in the land, air, sea and space domains.
Achieving this can be far from straightforward – complex defence assets rely on multiple supporting systems across engineering, logistics, maintenance and supply chains. They can have long lifecycles which, over time, can create fragmented environments where data can sit in silos, and visibility can become limited.
Defence organisations looking to tackle this problem often come to us with one or more of the following mission support questions in mind. And, at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, we have teams working on solutions to help.
1. Mission support goal: how can I use data to move faster?
Defence organisations need trusted, accessible and real-time insight across increasingly complex environments. They must be able to answer critical questions about their platforms instantly: are the assets mission ready? Where are the emerging risks? What supply or personnel requirements need to be met before deployment is possible?
Integrated Product Support (IPS), such as our PropheSEA® solution, is designed to enable fast and data-driven decision making around a defence asset. By bringing together engineering, maintenance and supply chain data, it breaks down barriers between systems and teams.
The impact is practical and immediate:
• Improved availability of critical assets
• Reduced operating and sustainment costs
• Extended platform lifespan
• Greater confidence in planning and execution
For one of our maritime customers, PropheSEA® Maintenance has been in use for over 20 years, and controls and schedules all maintenance activities on all of their major and minor surface and sub surface war vessels.
2. Mission support goal: I want communications that are secure by design, but agile by necessity
Agility in decision-making must always be matched by security in execution. Operational environments are increasingly interconnected, with data flowing across systems, networks and coalition partners. This often involves operating across different security classifications, making secure information exchange essential.
Capabilities such as our Cross Domain Solutions allow organisations across the broader defence and national security ecosystem to share information rapidly while preventing data leakage and mitigating cyber threats. The result is collaboration without compromise.
3. Mission support goal: how can I benefit from the best technology – from primes but SMEs too
Delivering mission support at pace requires rethinking how we innovate. Large organisations bring scale, resilience and deep domain expertise. At the same time, smaller, highly specialised SMEs bring agility, experimentation and cutting-edge thinking.
That is why we are expanding our ecosystem.
Our investment in Oxford Dynamics is one example. This UK-based AI and robotics start-up develops autonomous systems that can interpret data, coordinate actions and make real-time decisions. By embedding this technology into our products and ways of working, we are accelerating the application of advanced AI to defence challenges.
Alongside this, our colleagues at Techmodal, our data, analytics and decision support consultancy team, are strengthening our ability to turn complex data into actionable insight, with expertise in data science and digital transformation that directly supports evolving operational needs.
Together, this approach combines agility with assurance, enabling speed without compromising trust.
4. Mission support goal: I need to integrate new technology today, but be prepared for tomorrow
Mission support is no longer about delivering a single capability. It is about integrating an evolving ecosystem – bringing together existing platforms and emerging technologies to deliver value now, while preparing for what comes next.
Our work across programmes such as trilogi® reflects this approach, helping customers adapt, scale and evolve in response to changing demands.
Because ultimately, mission success depends not just on technology, but on how well everything connects.
5. Mission support goal: I want to work with teams that ‘get it’
For those on the front line, readiness is not a slogan, it is a responsibility. They must be able to act at a moment’s notice, with absolute confidence in their systems, data and decisions.
At BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, our role is to enable that confidence. We understand mission support because we work alongside those delivering it every day. The Royal Navy’s ambition to become a fully “digital navy” reflects a broader trend across defence: operational advantage now depends on the ability to integrate, exploit and act on data at speed, while maintaining the highest levels of assurance.
We understand that mission support is not just about maintaining capability. It is about empowering mission success; connecting the right elements, integrating data at scale, and combining agility with assurance.
Because in today’s world, it is not just about moving fast. It is about sensing first, understanding first, deciding first and acting first – and doing it with confidence.
Understanding the evolving threat landscape is a key part of maintaining robust defences. BAE Systems' Threat Intelligence team generate original insights through research and collaboration with customers and partners. Sign up to receive this newsletter from our team.